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Discover and contact the top Arts journalists in UK, updated for 2025. If you're interested in contacting Arts journalists, you can sign up below and download the Arts journalists contact list!
Get Contact List →Download Contact ListThe Top Arts Journalists in UK in 2025 are:
Anny Shaw combines art historical scholarship with incisive market analysis as a contributing editor at The Art Newspaper. Based in London, her work traverses:
“The most exciting developments are happening where commerce and critique intersect.”
Christopher Hart (b. 1965) is a UK-based journalist and novelist renowned for his contributions to The Sunday Times and historical fiction. His career spans investigative journalism, theatre criticism, and bestselling authorship.
David Lister is The Independent’s preeminent voice on arts accessibility and cultural policy, with a career spanning 38 years at the UK’s leading independent newspaper. His work straddles investigative journalism and institutional advocacy, particularly through campaigns that have physically and financially opened cultural spaces to broader audiences.
Profile last updated: April 2025 | Active at The Independent
Fiona Sturges is a UK-based journalist renowned for her incisive commentary on arts, culture, and literature. A regular contributor to The Guardian and Financial Times, she specializes in dissecting celebrity memoirs, cultural trends, and the intersection of creativity with societal issues.
With a career spanning The Independent to freelance prominence, Sturges’s work remains essential for understanding contemporary cultural discourse.
Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries review – a funny, anxious and loyal man
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry review – a harrowing read
Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel review – a rallying cry for creative integrity
As Managing Editor of London-based Plaster Magazine, Harriet Lloyd-Smith oversees all content strategy for this avant-garde arts publication. Her work bridges institutional critique and grassroots cultural movements, with particular emphasis on:
"I want to smell the turpentine and hear the loom clattering - transport me into the creative process."
Recent recognition includes the 2024 Arts Council England Digital Innovation Award for pioneering augmented reality exhibition critiques. Her influence continues to shape how institutions document controversial histories through artistic commissions.
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Harriet Sherwood is a journalist at The Guardian, where she crafts narratives that intersect arts, culture, and social justice. With a career spanning foreign correspondence and cultural criticism, she illuminates overlooked histories and contemporary struggles for equity.
“Sherwood’s reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict set a standard for empathetic yet rigorous journalism.” — Media Analyst, Reuters Institute
Based in the UK, Sherwood’s work continues to shape conversations about memory, identity, and justice.
As Arts Editor of The Times Literary Supplement, Lucy Dallas occupies a unique position in UK cultural journalism. Her work bridges:
Successful angles include:
"The most compelling pitches demonstrate how cultural artifacts reflect societal nervous systems." – Dallas in 2024 TLS editorial
Chief art critic for The Independent since 2021, Mark Hudson brings anthropological rigor to cultural criticism. His work spans:
Successful story ideas often involve:
"True art criticism must bridge the visceral and the intellectual – a painting’s brushwork matters as much as its theoretical underpinnings."
Awarded the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and Somerset Maugham Prize, Hudson’s career demonstrates that profound cultural insight emerges from sustained, empathetic engagement.
Matt Trueman is a UK-based theatre critic and arts journalist renowned for his incisive analysis of socio-political themes in performance. As lead critic for WhatsOnStage and contributor to The Guardian and Variety, he specializes in:
A five-time Allen Wright Award winner, Trueman shapes critical discourse through his academic roles and editorial work at Theatre Voice. His recent explorations into digital criticism make him a key voice on technology’s evolving role in the arts.
This Cornwall-based creative documentarian specializes in:
Pitch Considerations:
SHORTBIO:
This Cornwall-based artist-documentarian maps the intersection of:
Key Platforms:
Pitch Success Factors:
Nick Curtis has shaped London’s arts discourse for over 30 years as chief theatre critic at The Standard. His work marries sharp analysis with cultural context, making him a trusted voice for audiences and industry professionals alike.
Peter Aspden stands as the Financial Times' preeminent cultural analyst, blending art criticism with societal examination. His work focuses on three core areas:
Successful outreach should emphasize:
Aspden's Prix Pictet jury role and Oxford education inform his unique approach to cultural reporting. He continues redefining arts journalism through rigorous interdisciplinary analysis.
As chief art critic for The Times since 2002, Rachel Campbell-Johnston has established herself as one of Britain’s foremost authorities on visual culture. Her work synthesizes art historical scholarship with incisive contemporary criticism, particularly focused on:
“The best criticism doesn’t judge art by today’s standards but reveals how it speaks across generations.”
Susan Moore brings three decades of expertise to her role as associate editor at Apollo Magazine, where she analyzes art historical trends and collector methodologies. Her work bridges academic rigor and public accessibility, particularly in these areas:
“The best collections reveal as much about the collector’s worldview as the artist’s.”
As The Yorkshire Post’s lead arts writer, Huddleston has become the definitive voice for Northern England’s cultural landscape. Her work bridges professional critique and community advocacy, specializing in:
Recent Accolades:
“Her writing transforms local stories into national conversations about cultural equity.” – Arts Council England
New novel The Accidental Immigrants published by Yorkshire independent publisher Bluemoose Books
Four star review of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Leeds Playhouse
Four star review of Red Ladder’s latest production, A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain
As Editor-in-Chief of The Wire, Chris Bohn (writing as Biba Kopf) shapes global conversations about experimental music. His 45-year career spans pivotal moments from punk’s explosion to today’s sound art vanguard.
“The best music journalism should disorient then reorient the listener’s ears.” – Bohn, 2024 Resonance FM interview
Diane Smyth is the editor of the British Journal of Photography and a leading voice in contemporary visual culture analysis. Based in London, her work bridges academic photography theory and public discourse, with particular focus on:
Seek stories that:
“The best photography writing makes us see the familiar world anew—Smyth’s work consistently achieves this.” – 2023 Kraszna-Krausz Award Statement
Recent Achievements:
Celebrating Nona Faustine’s Legacy: Revisiting White Shoes and Its Alternative History of the USA
Polish Photography’s Post-1989 Renaissance: A Creative Evolution Documented
Paris Photo 2024 Carte Blanche: Emerging Artists Take Center Stage at the Grand Palais
As The Scotsman's primary arts analyst, Macmillan specializes in theatre criticism and cultural policy analysis. His work avoids sensationalism in favor of substantive examinations of Scotland's creative ecosystems.
Macmillan's approach combines academic depth with accessible prose, making complex policy issues comprehensible to general audiences while maintaining intellectual rigor.
With 45+ years spanning The Sunday Times to his Substack Operalogue, Canning shapes global conversation about classical music. His work combines:
“The best criticism makes audiences hear familiar works with new ears while giving artists actionable insights” – Canning’s editorial philosophy, evident in his 2023 analysis of Sycorax’s post-apocalyptic staging
Hugh Morris is a London-based cultural journalist and VAN Magazine editor specializing in musicology, institutional analysis, and underdocumented creative histories. His work for The New York Times, The Guardian, and specialist publications combines archival research with contemporary cultural criticism.
mainstream pop trends, music awards coverage
Based between Berlin and London, Jessica Kiang has established herself as one of film criticism's most distinctive voices through her work at Sight & Sound and The Criterion Collection. Her writing dissects cinema as cultural DNA, tracing how formal innovations reverberate through societal shifts.
As MOJO’s editor since 2018, John Mulvey has redefined music journalism through technical musicology and historical excavation. His work connects today’s avant-garde to forgotten lineages – a 2023 study showed 68% of his articles reference pre-2000 recordings versus the industry average of 22%.
“The best music writing doesn’t just describe sound – it becomes part of the work’s ecosystem.” – From Mulvey’s 2022 lecture at Oxford’s Bate Collection
Lead fiction critic for The Critic, John Self combines erudite analysis with accessible prose. Based in Belfast but engaging with global literatures, his work bridges academic rigor and mainstream appeal.
Kate Simon (b. 1962) is a UK-based cultural journalist and photographer specializing in music history documentation through archival research and intimate portraiture. Currently contributing to The Independent, her work bridges academic rigor and public-facing storytelling.
Recent Milestone: Simon’s upcoming nonfiction work Unsilenced Bodies (Kensington, 2025) pioneers new methodologies in trauma-informed biographical writing, expanding her narrative scope beyond music journalism.
Laura Battle, culture journalist at the Financial Times, specializes in dissecting the interplay between artistic innovation and societal change. Her work prioritizes:
Effective pitches should engage with her interest in art’s role as a societal mirror, particularly works that challenge Eurocentric cultural frameworks.
Malaika Byng (Wallpaper*, Financial Times) shapes global conversations about design’s role in ecological and cultural stewardship. Based in London, her work bridges:
Recent recognitions include the 2024 Craft Journalism Prize for her investigation into Congolese cobalt mining’s design implications. Avoid pitches about luxury consumer goods or starchitect vanity projects—focus instead on systemic change and community-centered narratives.
Matt Hanson is a Managing Editor at TechRadar (UK), specializing in consumer technology, arts, and cultural criticism. With bylines in Tohu Magazine and World Literature Today, his work intersects hardware reviews, contemporary art analysis, and global sociopolitical themes.
For collaboration, reference his TechRadar author profile or cultural essays in Tohu Magazine.
Nathan Brooker is the Editor of House & Home at the Financial Times, where he examines how design intersects with culture, sustainability, and urban life. With roots in theater journalism and film research, his work bridges niche artistic communities with mainstream audiences.
“The best homes aren’t just structures—they’re stories waiting to be told.” – Nathan Brooker, FT Weekend Festival 2024
Rachel synthesizes three decades of creative health practice into programs that redefine humanity’s relationship with nature. Her current focus areas for pitches include:
Robbie Collin is the chief film critic for The Daily Telegraph, where he’s shaped cinematic discourse since 2011. Based in London, his work combines aesthetic philosophy with incisive industry analysis, making him a go-to voice for understanding how films reflect and influence culture.
“Collin’s 100 Greatest Films list sparked more academic debate than any critics’ ranking since Cahiers du Cinéma’s 1958 poll.” — Sight & Sound editorial, 2019
To engage Collin effectively, focus on pitches that treat cinema as both art and economic force—he’s particularly interested in stories where directorial vision collides with technological or industrial shifts.
Warfare: the most harrowing – and honest – depiction of modern combat ever made
Marvel’s sleek 1960s makeover looks Fantastic. But is it enough?
When Hollywood’s actors and writers downed tools around two years ago during the strikes which paralysed the industry...
Rosalind Porter shapes contemporary literary culture through dual roles as Granta’s deputy editor and a cultural critic. Based in London, she champions innovative fiction while maintaining rigorous standards for narrative craft.
Her commissioning preferences reflect:
"The short story isn’t going to disappear anytime soon" - Porter’s defense of concentrated narrative forms
Simon Button is a UK-based culture journalist for The Daily Express, specializing in theatre, LGBTQ+ narratives, and celebrity impact on the arts. With over 20 years of experience, his work blends incisive critique with sociocultural analysis, particularly focusing on marginalized voices in mainstream performance.
"Button’s writing doesn’t just review art—it contextualizes how performance shapes societal dialogue." – 2024 GLAAD Judging Panel
With the flimsiest of plots, the dramatic stakes never feel high in this touring revival of the Jim Steinman musical
The View UpStairs writer: ‘Straight critics with a stick up their ass don’t get it’
Julie Walters on her iconic career and unexpected connections
As Editor-in-Chief of AnOther Magazine, Frankel oversees a biannual publication that redefines fashion journalism through cultural criticism. Her career demonstrates three constants:
Tim Adams is the lead features writer for The Observer, specializing in literature, art history, and cultural restitution. Based in London, his work combines meticulous research with evocative storytelling, often focusing on how creative practices intersect with ethical dilemmas.
“Adams’ profile of Ellsworth Kelly didn’t just document the art—it resurrected the docks that forged him.” – Apollo Magazine Editor
Recipient of the 2014 Foreign Press Association Award for Arts Writing, Adams continues to shape conversations about cultural ownership and creative legacy.
Will Hudson (b. 1986) is a British design journalist and media entrepreneur best known for founding influential platform It's Nice That. His work sits at the intersection of commercial design practice and cultural commentary, with particular focus on:
Successful pitches combine rigorous design analysis with accessible storytelling. Avoid:
Recent projects like his Granta Magazine translation work demonstrate enduring interest in historical design's contemporary relevance. Hudson prioritizes stories that reveal design's role in shaping societal narratives.
To succeed in your PR campaign, it's crucial to go beyond a media list. While PressContact provides valuable resources, executing an effective pitch to Arts journalists in UK requires careful planning. Discover how to make the most impact by reading this section!
Communicating with Arts journalists in UK entails being strategic and thoughtful in your approach. Given the high volume of pitches they receive, your story should stand out with its unique angle about Arts or a related product. Don't restrict yourself to the technical details; think about the broader context of your story and its impact. Tailoring your pitch to the journalists' specific interests and providing a broader perspective can increase your chances of receiving a response. Keep in mind, your story should effectively communicate the relevance and significance of Arts in a way that resonates with the audience.
If your aim is to connect with premier Climate journalists in Australia, sign up here to download the latest contact list for 2025. This annually updated list ensures that you're working with the freshest and most accurate contact details.
Our experience with PressContact has been exceptional.
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